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Our Mission Statement

To provide excellent, objective, timely and cost-effective legal advice and advocacy in support of the City's policy goals and to ensure that the official actions of the City, its elected officials and employees comply with the law.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Portland City Attorney's Office is responsible for all of the legal affairs of the City of Portland. The Office's client is the City itself and office attorneys are prohibited from providing legal advice to the public.

The Office represents the City and its elected officials, employees, bureaus,
offices, boards and commissions in court and in administrative and quasi-judicial proceedings. Office attorneys draft and review local legislation, contracts, real estate leases, intergovernmental agreements and other documents and legal instruments. The Office advises on policy development and program implementation. Attorneys advocate and negotiate on behalf of the City. Office attorneys provide training to elected officials, City boards and commissions and City employees on a broad spectrum of law-related topics.

The City Attorney's Office also advises City officials in many different subject areas, such as environmental law; constitutional law; civil rights; employee benefits; public records requests and records management; personnel and labor law issues; tort claims; workers compensation; construction law; land use planning; equity, diversity and affirmative action; revenue and taxation; policing; fire, rescue and emergency services; code enforcement; housing; elections; telecommunications, franchises and utilities; and collection of revenues owed to the City.